Watch out for fleas! With more pets in our homes, flea infestations could become more common. The cat flea is the usual suspect, but it doesn't just target cats. These fleas are happy to feed on dogs, rats, humans, and other mammals.
Getting rid of fleas requires the right approach. The flea's life cycle stage matters when choosing a treatment plan.
Those tiny, jumping pests plaguing your pet? They're most likely fleas. Fleas are external parasites, meaning they live off the blood of their hosts. Unlike flies or mosquitos, fleas are wingless insects belonging to the order Siphonaptera. These brown, oval-shaped critters are surprisingly small, only reaching 2 to 4 millimeters long. But what they lack in size, they make up for in agility. Their six spiny legs, especially the powerful hind legs, allow them to jump over 200 times their body length!
Fleas: Beyond the Bite
These bloodsucking insects have small antennae and piercing mouthparts designed for a feast. While some fleas are picky eaters, sticking to one host species (like your poor pet!), others are happy to dine on a variety of mammals, including humans.
The increasing number of household pets might be creating a flea buffet, but the good news is that some of the scary disease's fleas can spread in other parts of the world are very uncommon in Australia. While flea bites can become infected if contaminated with flea feces (leading to a condition called typhus), this is rare.
Tapeworm larvae can also be transmitted by fleas, but the biggest concern with fleas in some areas is the bubonic plague. Thankfully, bubonic plague isn't spread by fleas in Australia.
- Cat Flea (Ctenocephalides felis): This is the most prevalent flea species in Australia. Despite the name, it readily feeds on dogs, rats, humans, and various other mammals.
- Dog Flea (Ctenocephalides canis): Less common than the cat flea, the dog flea has a similar appearance. It feeds on a wider range of mammals compared to the cat flea.
- Human Flea (Pulex irritans): Due to improved hygiene standards, the human flea is rarely encountered in Australia. However, it can still feed on dogs, pigs, rats, and mice.
The Four Faces of a Flea: A Look at Their Life Cycle
Fleas undergo a complete metamorphosis, meaning they go through four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The entire life cycle can take anywhere from two weeks to eight months, depending on factors like temperature, humidity, food availability, and even the specific flea species.
- Egg Stage: After a blood meal, adult females lay clusters of 4-8 tiny, light-colored, oval-shaped eggs. These eggs often fall off the host and land in the environment, typically taking 2 days to 2 weeks to hatch.
- Larval Stage: Newly hatched larvae resemble translucent worms with small bristles and can grow up to 3 millimeters long. Unlike adults, they don't feed on blood. Instead, they feed on digested blood found in adult flea feces, along with other organic debris like dead skin, hair, and feathers. This stage can last for several months. Once fully developed, larvae spin a cocoon and enter the pupal stage.
- Pupal Stage: Inside the cocoon, the larva transforms into an adult flea. These cocoons can be found on pet fur, carpet fibers, dust, and even grass clippings. Warm and humid environments are ideal for pupal development. Adult fleas remain dormant within the cocoon until they sense signs of a potential host, such as vibrations caused by movement, pressure, heat, noise, or even carbon dioxide. The entire egg-to- pupa stage typically takes 5-14 days.
- Adult Stage: When a suitable host is detected, adult fleas emerge from their cocoons ready for their first blood meal. These active adults can jump and crawl through hair or fur, seeking accessible areas on the host to feed. Interestingly, adult fleas can survive for months without a meal. When feeding, they use their saw-like mouthparts to pierce the skin and feed. Their saliva contains anticoagulants to prevent the host's blood from clotting.
Flea Bites and Their Symptoms:
Flea bites can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms, including:
- Intense itching at the bite site
- Red, swollen bumps (wheals) appearing within 30 minutes of the bite
- Blisters or small wounds forming around the wheal, typically within a day
- Bites concentrated on the legs and feet
- Skin infections due to scratching the bites
Individuals can develop increased sensitivity to flea bites over time.
